2 francs - Léopold II - Vinçotte type in Dutch

The coin's story

This silver 2 francs coin belongs to the series struck from 1904 to 1909, the last years of the reign of Leopold II, King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909. Its fineness of 835 thousandths follows the rules of the Latin Monetary Union, concluded in 1865 with France, Italy and Switzerland, which reserved 900 thousandths silver for the 5 francs coins and set 835 thousandths for the smaller denominations. The portrait is the work of Thomas Vinçotte (1850-1925), a sculptor and medallist close to the court of Leopold II, whose name appears below the neck. The coin exists in a French version and, like this one, in a Dutch version, with the legend LEOPOLD II KONING DER BELGEN. The 1909 date, the year of the King's death, was struck in 1,087,500 pieces. The coin was demonetised on 30 July 1932.